Airbag device

Abstract

To provide an air bag device capable of appropriately maintaining internal pressure of a plurality of chambers inside the air bag body part.SOLUTION: An air bag device 1 includes: an air bag body part 10 which includes a partition wall part 13 dividing an inside into a first chamber C1 and a second chamber C2, and swells from a folded state by gas inflow; a communication part 14 which is provided in a contact range 10a with an entering object entering into the air bag body part 10 when the air bag body part 10 swells, and communicates the first chamber C1 with the second chamber C2 through the outside of the air bag body part 10; and an inflator 17 introducing gas into the first chamber C1 or the second chamber C2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an airbag device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are airbag devices installed in vehicles such as automobiles to protect occupants from impact when the vehicle crashes. Patent Document 1 discloses technology related to an airbag device in which the interior of the airbag main body is divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber by a partition cloth. Gas flowing from the inflator into the lower chamber flows into the upper chamber through a check valve installed in the partition cloth, so the upper chamber inflates after the lower chamber. In this airbag device, the internal pressure of each chamber is maintained by the check valve functioning due to the pressure applied to the airbag main body when restraining the occupant. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-51744 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the airbag device described in Patent Document 1, the check valve is configured to close when part of it is crushed by the internal pressure of the upper chamber when the airbag main body is compressed. However, in airbag devices in which the airbag main body has multiple chambers, there is a demand for technology that can more stably maintain the internal pressure of each chamber.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the problems inherent in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device that can appropriately maintain the internal pressure of multiple chambers within the airbag main body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The airbag device of the present invention includes an airbag main body that includes a partition that divides the interior into a first chamber and a second chamber and that inflates from a folded state due to the inflow of gas; a communication portion that is provided in the contact area with an intruding object that invades the airbag main body when the airbag main body is inflated and that connects the first chamber and the second chamber through the outside of the airbag main body; and an inflator that introduces gas into the first chamber or the second chamber. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an airbag device that can appropriately maintain the internal pressure of a plurality of chambers in the airbag main body. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic view showing an airbag device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag body in the first embodiment when it starts to inflate. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag body when deployed, corresponding to the cross section III-III of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the state of the airbag body immediately after it has assumed a deployed shape. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a state of an airbag body when a door trim enters the airbag body. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a state in which the door trim crushes the communication portion. [Figure 7] 4 is a graph showing changes in internal pressure for each chamber in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing an airbag device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] 9 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag body when inflated, corresponding to cross section XX in FIG. 8. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the state of the airbag body immediately after it has assumed a deployed shape. [Figure 11] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a state of an airbag body when an occupant's chest enters the airbag body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The airbag device according to this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for the sake of convenience and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0010] In addition, the X, Y, and Z directions are illustrated in each drawing for reference. The X direction is generally along the width direction of a vehicle such as an automobile in which the airbag device is used. The Y direction is a direction perpendicular to the XZ plane and generally along the straight-ahead direction of the vehicle. The Z direction is a direction parallel to the XY plane and perpendicular to the floor surface on which the passenger seat 100 (see FIG. 1, etc.) is installed, and generally along the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0011] (First embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an airbag device 1 according to a first embodiment. The airbag device 1 is a so-called side airbag device that protects the side of an occupant H seated in a seat 100 in the event of a side collision of the vehicle. The airbag device 1 is installed, for example, on the side of a backrest 100a of the seat 100 facing a door trim 110 (see FIG. 4). The seat on which the airbag device 1 is installed may be any of the driver's seat, passenger seat, and rear seat. The following description will be given taking as an example a case in which the airbag device 1 is installed in the left seat of the vehicle. FIG. 1 illustrates the airbag device 1 that has been activated in response to a side collision of the vehicle, as viewed from the door trim side that has been hit.

[0012] The airbag device 1 includes an airbag body 10 , a communication portion 14 , and an inflator 17 .

[0013] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag main body 10 at the start of inflation. FIG. 3 corresponds to the cross-section III-III of FIG. 1 and is a cross-sectional view of the airbag main body 10 at the time of deployment, inflated from the state shown in FIG. 2 as gas flows into the interior. The cross-section III-III of FIG. 1 intersects with the YZ plane and is approximately aligned with the inclined surface of the backrest 100a. The airbag main body 10 is a bag formed from one or more base fabrics, and is stored in a folded state on the side of the backrest 100a during normal operation when the airbag device 1 is not deployed. When the vehicle receives a large side impact, the airbag main body 10 inflates and deploys due to the inflow of gas.

[0014] The airbag main body 10 is formed into a bag-like shape as a whole by, for example, overlapping two base fabrics, a first panel 11 and a second panel 12, and joining the outer peripheral edges of the panels by sewing, bonding, welding, or the like. In this embodiment, the first panel 11 is the base fabric on the side facing the door trim 110. The second panel 12 is the base fabric on the side facing the occupant H. The first panel 11 and the second panel 12 have the same circular or elliptical shape and are large enough to restrain the area from the shoulders to the waist of the occupant H when the airbag main body 10 is deployed.

[0015] The airbag main body 10 also includes a partition 13 that divides the interior into a first chamber C1 and a second chamber C2. The partition 13 is a base fabric that is elliptical in shape as a whole. Approximately half of the outer periphery of the partition 13 is joined by sewing or the like to the inner surface of the first panel 11, and the remaining portion is joined by sewing or the like to the inner surface of the second panel 12. In other words, the partition 13 also functions as a tether that connects the first panel 11 and the second panel 12 inside the airbag main body 10.

[0016] The first chamber C1 is an inflatable portion located on the lower side in the Z direction inside the airbag main body 10. The waist and other parts of the body of the occupant H that are expected to be restrained by the first chamber C1 when the airbag main body 10 is deployed are assumed to be the waist and other parts. On the other hand, the second chamber C2 is an inflatable portion located on the upper side in the Z direction inside the airbag main body 10. The shoulders, chest, abdomen and other parts of the body of the occupant H that are expected to be restrained by the second chamber C2 when the airbag main body 10 is deployed are assumed to be the shoulders, chest, abdomen and other parts.

[0017] Here, the internal shapes of the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2 are set according to the body parts to be protected. In this embodiment, the vertical and horizontal dimensions (hereinafter referred to as "V / H size") of the internal shapes of the chambers and the internal pressure of the chambers when the airbag main body 10 is deployed have the following relationship: The V / H size of the first chamber C1 may be preset to be smaller than the V / H size of the second chamber C2. In this case, the internal pressure of the first chamber C1 is higher than the internal pressure of the second chamber C2. By setting the internal pressure of the first chamber C1 to a relatively high pressure, the first chamber C1 can be suitable for protecting the waist, etc. of the occupant H. On the other hand, by setting the internal pressure of the second chamber C2 to a relatively low pressure, the impact on the occupant H can be more mitigated than that of the first chamber C1, and therefore, the second chamber C2 can be suitable for protecting the shoulders, chest, abdomen, etc. of the occupant H.

[0018] The first panel 11 has two communication ports that communicate with the ends of the communication portion 14, which will be described later. The first communication port 11a is a through-hole that communicates with the internal space of the first chamber C1. The second communication port 11b is a through-hole that communicates with the internal space of the second chamber C2. The first panel 11 also has two exhaust ports that discharge gas from the internal space of the airbag main body 10 to the outside after deployment. The first exhaust port 11c is a through-hole that opens the internal space of the first chamber C1 to the outside. The second exhaust port 11d is a through-hole that opens the internal space of the second chamber C2 to the outside. Such exhaust ports are sometimes called vent holes.

[0019] The second panel 12 also has an attachment opening (not shown) for attaching an inflator 17, which will be described later. The position on the second panel 12 where the inflator 17 is attached will be described in detail below together with the description of the inflator 17.

[0020] The communication portion 14 communicates the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2 through the outside of the airbag body 10. The communication portion 14 has a duct shape, the interior of which serves as a communication space S for gas G. One end of the communication portion 14, i.e., a first end 14a, is joined by sewing or the like to the outer surface of the first panel 11 so that the opening of the first end 14a faces the first communication port 11a. The other end of the communication portion 14, i.e., a second end 14b, is joined by sewing or the like to the outer surface of the first panel 11 so that the opening of the second end 14b faces the second communication port 11b. In other words, the first end 14a communicates with the first chamber C1, and the second end 14b communicates with the second chamber C2. The communication portion 14 is made of, for example, fabric, and is inflated when gas G flows into the communication space S from a folded state.

[0021] The communication portion 14 is provided in a contact area 10a with an intrusion object that advances toward the airbag main body 10 when the airbag main body 10 is inflated. Here, when the airbag main body 10 is inflated, it refers to when the airbag device 1 is activated, i.e., when a vehicle equipped with the airbag device 1 is subjected to a side collision. Therefore, in this embodiment, the intrusion object is assumed to be a door trim 110 located on the side of the vehicle. In this case, the contact area 10a corresponds to a range facing at least a portion of a deformed portion of the door trim 110 that is assumed to advance toward the airbag main body 10 due to a side collision, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 . In other words, when a deformed portion of the door trim 110 advances toward the airbag main body 10 due to a side collision, the contact area 10a of the airbag main body 10 is more likely to come into contact with the deformed portion of the door trim 110 before areas other than the contact area 10a.

[0022] The inflator 17 is a so-called cylinder type device that introduces gas (inflation gas) into the airbag main body 10. For example, the inflator 17 includes an igniter, a gas generating agent, etc. The inflator 17 receives an electrical signal emitted when a side collision of the vehicle or the like is detected or predicted, and the igniter combusts the gas generating agent based on the received electrical signal, thereby rapidly introducing gas into the airbag main body 10.

[0023] In this embodiment, the inflator 17 is connected to the side of the backrest 100a via a stud bolt. The inflator 17 is attached to the second panel 12 so as to be located at the rear of the airbag main body 10 in the direction of forward travel, in accordance with the connection position on the vehicle side. In this embodiment, the inflator 17 introduces gas only into the first chamber C1. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, a portion of the partition wall 13 may be joined while avoiding the attachment position of the inflator 17 so that the inflator 17 is contained within the first chamber C1.

[0024] Next, the deployed shape of the airbag body 10 will be described.

[0025] When gas is introduced into the first chamber C1 from the inflator 17, the first chamber C1 begins to inflate, and the airbag main body 10 changes from its folded state to a shape similar to that shown in Fig. 2. However, the shape of the airbag main body 10 at the start of inflation shown in Fig. 2 is an example for comparison with the deployed shape of the airbag main body 10 after inflation shown in Fig. 3, and at the start of actual inflation, the first chamber C1 inflates before the second chamber C2. Also, immediately after inflation of the first chamber C1 begins, gas G has not yet flowed into the communication space S within the communication portion 14, and therefore the communication portion 14 has not yet begun to inflate.

[0026] As the inflation of the first chamber C1 progresses, the gas G that has flowed into the first chamber C1 flows through the first communication port 11a into the communication space S within the communication portion 14, and as the communication portion 14 itself expands, the gas G subsequently flows into the second chamber C2 through the second communication port 11b. As the gas G flows into the second chamber C2 in this manner, the airbag main body 10 deploys into a shape in which the first chamber C1, the second chamber C2, and the communication portion 14 are each inflated, as shown in FIG.

[0027] Next, the operation of the airbag device 1 will be described.

[0028] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the state of the airbag body 10 immediately after the vehicle has been hit by a side collision and has assumed a deployed shape. Fig. 4 shows the side of the airbag body 10 as viewed from the front to the rear of the vehicle in the direction of straight travel when the airbag device 1 is activated. Fig. 4 also shows a schematic cross section of the door trim 110, whose outer surface 110a receives an impact force F from the outside along the vehicle width direction, and the contact area 10a set on the airbag body 10.

[0029] Immediately after the vehicle is subjected to a side collision, the door trim 110 that has received the impact force F has not yet undergone significant deformation. Therefore, the door trim 110, which is the object of entry, has not yet entered the airbag main body 10 immediately after it assumes its deployed shape. In addition, the communication portion 14 provided in the contact area 10a of the airbag main body 10 remains inflated, allowing gas G to circulate within the communication space S.

[0030] FIG. 5 is drawn corresponding to FIG. 4 and shows the state of the airbag body 10 when the door trim 110, which has been deformed by the impact force F, enters after the airbag body 10 has assumed the deployed shape.

[0031] It is assumed that the door trim 110, which has begun to deform from the state shown in Fig. 4, will advance toward the contact area 10a of the airbag main body 10. Here, since the contact area 10a of the airbag main body 10 is provided with the communication portion 14, the inner surface portion 110b of the door trim 110 first comes into contact with the communication portion 14 of the airbag main body 10 and crushes the inflated communication portion 14, as shown in Fig. 5.

[0032] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3, showing the state when the inner surface 110b of the door trim 110 crushes the communication portion 14 in the airbag body 10 in the deployed shape.

[0033] When the inner surface 110b of the door trim 110 crushes the communication portion 14, the internal communication space S is closed as shown in Fig. 6, and the gas G in the first chamber C1 can no longer flow through the communication space S to the second chamber C2. Therefore, the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2, which have already expanded, become independent air chambers. As a result, the internal pressures of the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2 are maintained at predetermined target internal pressures.

[0034] Next, the effects of the airbag device 1 will be described.

[0035] The airbag device 1 includes an airbag main body 10 that includes a partition 13 that divides the interior into a first chamber C1 and a second chamber C2, and that inflates from a folded state when gas flows in. The airbag device 1 also includes a communication part 14 that is provided in a contact area 10a with an object that invades toward the airbag main body 10 when the airbag main body 10 inflates, and that communicates between the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2 through the outside of the airbag main body 10. The airbag device 1 also includes an inflator 17 that introduces gas into the first chamber C1.

[0036] In this airbag device 1, the airbag main body 10 is installed in a vehicle seat 100 and may have a deployed shape that protects the side of an occupant H seated in the seat 100 in the event of a side collision of the vehicle. In this case, the above-mentioned entry target may be a door trim 110 of the vehicle.

[0037] The airbag body 10 is provided with at least two air chambers, a first chamber C1 and a second chamber C2. When the airbag device 1 is a side airbag device, as illustrated above, gas flowing from the inflator 17 into the lower first chamber C1 also flows into the upper second chamber C2 through the communication portion 14. Because the communication portion 14 is located in the contact area 10a of the airbag body 10, the door trim 110 first contacts and crushes the communication portion 14 during a side collision. The interior of the crushed communication portion 14 is closed, preventing gas G from the first chamber C1 from flowing toward the second chamber C2. Therefore, according to this airbag device 1, when the door trim 110, which is an entry target, enters the airbag body 10, the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2, which are already inflated, can be independent air chambers. That is, the internal pressure of each of the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2 can be set to an internal pressure appropriate for each body part of the occupant H that is to be protected.

[0038] Furthermore, the communication portion 14, which allows gas G flowing from the inflator 17 into one of the chambers to flow into the other chamber when the airbag device 1 is activated, is provided outside the airbag main body 10 and within the contact range 10a. Therefore, when the airbag main body 10 is deployed, there is a high possibility that the communication portion 14 will be crushed by an intruding object, and as a result, the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2 will become independent air chambers. Therefore, with this airbag device 1, it is possible to more reliably maintain the internal pressures of the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2 at predetermined target internal pressures when the airbag main body 10 is deployed.

[0039] FIG. 7 is a graph showing changes in the internal pressure of the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2 over time when the airbag device 1 is deployed following a side collision of the vehicle. In FIG. 7, the change in internal pressure of the first chamber C1 is indicated by a solid line, and the change in internal pressure of the second chamber C2 is indicated by a dashed line. Time T1 is the timing when the door trim 110, which is an object of entry, crushes the communication portion 14, causing the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2 to become independent air chambers. After time T1, the internal pressure of the first chamber C1 is maintained at a target high pressure. Meanwhile, the internal pressure of the second chamber C2 is maintained at a target low pressure. This result can be verified by the clear difference in internal pressure between the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2, as shown by the two areas enclosed by the two-dot chain lines in FIG. 7 after time T1.

[0040] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide an airbag device 1 that can appropriately maintain the internal pressure of the plurality of chambers in the airbag body 10.

[0041] In addition, in the airbag device 1, the communication portion 14 has a duct shape in which one end, the first end 14a, communicates with the first chamber C1 and the other end, the second end 14b, communicates with the second chamber C2, and may inflate from a folded state due to the inflow of gas G.

[0042] Because the communication portion 14 has such a duct shape, it inflates in a shape that protrudes toward an intruding object when the airbag main body 10 is deployed, making it more likely to be crushed by the intruding object. In other words, this improves the reliability of maintaining the internal pressures of the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2 when the airbag main body 10 is deployed. Therefore, with this airbag device 1, the internal pressures of the multiple chambers can be more appropriately maintained.

[0043] (Second embodiment) Fig. 8 is a front view showing an airbag device 2 according to a second embodiment. The airbag device 2 is a so-called driver airbag device (DAB) that protects the front part of an occupant H seated in a driver's seat 100 (see Fig. 10) in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle. The airbag device 2 is installed in the center of a steering wheel 120 (see Fig. 10). Fig. 8 depicts the front of the airbag main body 20 deployed in the airbag device 2 that is activated in response to a frontal collision of the vehicle, as seen from the occupant H side.

[0044] Figure 9 corresponds to the XX cross section in Figure 8, and is a cross section of the airbag body 20 when deployed, inflated with the inflow of gas into the interior. The XX cross section in Figure 8 is parallel to the YZ plane and passes through the central axis of the steering wheel 120.

[0045] The airbag device 2 includes an airbag body 20, a communication portion 24, an inflator 27, and a retainer .

[0046] The airbag main body 20 is a bag formed of one or more base fabrics, and is stored in a folded state in the center of the steering wheel 120 during normal operation when the airbag device 2 is not activated. The airbag main body 20 inflates and deploys due to an inflow of gas when the vehicle receives a large frontal impact. Similar to the airbag main body 10 in the first embodiment, the airbag main body 20 is formed into a bag-like shape as a whole by overlapping two base fabrics, a first panel 21 and a second panel 22, and joining their outer peripheral edges. In this embodiment, the first panel 21 is the base fabric on the side facing the occupant H. The second panel 22 is the base fabric on the side facing the steering wheel 120. The first panel 21 and the second panel 22 have the same circular shape and are large enough to restrain the entire front area of ​​the occupant H from the head to the abdomen when the airbag main body 20 is deployed.

[0047] The airbag body 20 also includes a partition wall 23 that divides the interior into a first chamber C1 and a second chamber C2. The shape and function of the partition wall 23 are similar to those of the partition wall 13 in the first embodiment.

[0048] The first chamber C1 is an inflatable section located on the lower side in the Z direction inside the airbag main body 20. The abdomen, chest, or the like is expected as the body part of the occupant H that the first chamber C1 restrains when the airbag main body 20 is deployed. On the other hand, the second chamber C2 is an inflatable section located on the upper side in the Z direction inside the airbag main body 20. The head, chest, or the like is expected as the body part of the occupant H that the second chamber C2 restrains when the airbag main body 20 is deployed. The internal shapes and predetermined target internal pressures of the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2 may be set in accordance with the body parts to be protected, as in the first embodiment.

[0049] The first panel 21 has two communication openings that communicate with the ends of the communication portion 24 described below. The first communication opening 21a is a through-hole that communicates with the internal space of the second chamber C2. The second communication opening 21b is a through-hole that communicates with the internal space of the first chamber C1.

[0050] The second panel 22 also has an attachment opening 22a for attaching an inflator 27 (described later). The attachment opening 22a is formed in approximately the center of the second panel 22 and is in communication with the internal space of the second chamber C2. The second panel 22 also has two exhaust openings serving as vent holes. The first exhaust opening 22b is a through-hole that opens the internal space of the second chamber C2 to the outside. The second exhaust opening 22c is a through-hole that opens the internal space of the first chamber C1 to the outside.

[0051] Similar to the communicating portion 14 in the first embodiment, the communicating portion 24 communicates between the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2 through the outside of the airbag body 20. The shape and material of the communicating portion 24 are also similar to those of the communicating portion 14 in the first embodiment, and for example, the communicating portion 24 has a duct shape with the inside thereof serving as a communication space S for gas G, and is inflated when gas G flows into the communication space S from the folded state.

[0052] Furthermore, a first end 24a, which is one end of the communication portion 24, is joined by sewing or the like to the outer surface of the first panel 21 so that the opening of the first end 24a faces the first communication port 21a. A second end 24b, which is the other end of the communication portion 24, is joined by sewing or the like to the outer surface of the first panel 21 so that the opening of the second end 24b faces the second communication port 21b. In other words, in this embodiment, unlike the communication portion 14 in the first embodiment, the first end 24a communicates with the second chamber C2, and the second end 24b communicates with the first chamber C1.

[0053] Furthermore, similar to the communicating portion 14 in the first embodiment, the communicating portion 24 is provided in a contact area 20a with an intruding object that intrudes toward the airbag main body 20 when the airbag main body 20 is inflated. However, when the airbag main body 20 inflates, it means when the airbag device 2 is activated, that is, in this embodiment, when a vehicle equipped with the airbag device 2 is subjected to a frontal collision. Therefore, in this embodiment, the intruding object is assumed to be an occupant H seated in the seat 100 serving as the driver's seat. In this case, the contact area 20a corresponds to a range facing the chest H1 (see FIG. 10 ) of the occupant H, which is assumed to intrude into the airbag main body 20 upon a frontal collision, as indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 8 . In other words, when the chest H1 of the occupant H intrudes into the airbag main body 20 upon a frontal collision, the contact area 20a of the airbag main body 20 is more likely to come into contact with the chest H1 of the occupant H before areas other than the contact area 20a.

[0054] The inflator 27, like the inflator 17 in the first embodiment, is a device that introduces gas into the interior of the airbag main body 20. The inflator 27 is attached to a mounting opening 22a formed in the second panel 22 in accordance with a connection position on the steering wheel 120. As described above, the mounting opening 22a is formed so as to communicate with the internal space of the second chamber C2, and therefore the inflator 27 introduces gas only into the second chamber C2.

[0055] The retainer 28 is a frame for attaching the airbag body 20 and the inflator 27 to the steering wheel 120.

[0056] Next, the deployed shape of the airbag body 20 will be described.

[0057] When gas is introduced into the second chamber C2 from the inflator 27, the second chamber C2 begins to inflate. As the inflation of the second chamber C2 progresses, the gas G that has flowed into the second chamber C2 flows through the first communication port 21a into the communication space S in the communication portion 24, and as the communication portion 24 itself inflates, the gas G continues to flow into the first chamber C1 through the second communication port 21b. As the gas G flows into the first chamber C1 in this manner, the airbag main body 20 deploys into a shape in which the first chamber C1, the second chamber C2, and the communication portion 24 are each inflated, as shown in FIG.

[0058] Next, the operation of the airbag device 2 will be described.

[0059] Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the state of the airbag body 20 immediately after the vehicle has been hit by a frontal collision and has assumed a deployed shape. Fig. 10 shows the side of the airbag body 20 as seen from the side of the vehicle when the airbag device 2 is activated. Fig. 10 also shows the contact area 20a set on the airbag body 20.

[0060] Immediately after the vehicle is hit by a head-on collision, the occupant H, who is the target of entry, has not yet entered the airbag body 20 that has just assumed its deployed shape. In addition, the communication portion 24 provided in the contact area 20a of the airbag body 20 remains inflated, allowing gas G to circulate within the communication space S.

[0061] FIG. 11 is drawn corresponding to FIG. 10 and shows the state of the airbag body 20 when it starts to restrain the entering occupant H after it has assumed the deployed shape.

[0062] When an occupant H is pushed toward the steering wheel 120 in a head-on collision, it is expected that the occupant H's body parts, particularly the chest H1, will move toward the contact area 20a of the airbag main body 20. Here, since the contact area 20a of the airbag main body 20 is provided with the communication portion 24, the chest H1 will first come into contact with the communication portion 24 of the airbag main body 20 and crush the inflated communication portion 24, as shown in FIG.

[0063] When the chest H1 compresses the communication part 24, the internal communication space S is closed, and the gas G in the second chamber C2 can no longer flow toward the first chamber C1 through the communication space S. Therefore, the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2, which have already expanded, become independent air chambers. As a result, the internal pressures of the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2 are maintained at predetermined target internal pressures.

[0064] Next, the effects of the airbag device 2 will be described.

[0065] The airbag device 2 includes a partition 23 that divides the interior into a first chamber C1 and a second chamber C2, and is equipped with an airbag main body 20 that inflates from a folded state due to the inflow of gas. The airbag device 2 is equipped with a communication part 24 that is provided in a contact area 20a with an intruding object that invades the airbag main body 20 when the airbag main body 20 inflates, and that communicates between the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2 through the outside of the airbag main body 20. The airbag device 2 also includes an inflator 27 that introduces gas into the second chamber C2.

[0066] Here, the airbag main body 20 is installed on the steering wheel 120 of the vehicle and has an expanded shape that protects the front of an occupant H seated in the driver's seat in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle, and the target of entry may be the occupant H.

[0067] Such an airbag device 2 as an example of a driver airbag device also functions in the same manner as the airbag device 1 in the first embodiment described as an example of a side airbag device. Therefore, according to this embodiment, like the first embodiment, it is possible to provide an airbag device 2 that can appropriately maintain the internal pressures of the multiple chambers in the airbag main body 20.

[0068] In the above description, in the airbag device 1 according to the first embodiment, the communicating portion 14 is provided on the first panel 11 side of the airbag main body 10, and the object that enters the airbag main body 10 upon activation is the door trim 110 of the vehicle. However, instead of this configuration, the communicating portion 14 may be provided on the second panel 12 side of the airbag main body 10, and the object that enters the airbag main body 10 upon activation may be the occupant H.

[0069] Furthermore, in the above description, the airbag device 1 etc. according to each embodiment is exemplified as a side airbag device or a driver airbag device, but it may also be adopted as, for example, an airbag device for a passenger seat installed on the instrument panel of a vehicle.

[0070] In the above description, the airbag main body 10 etc. in each embodiment has two chambers, the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2. However, since the airbag main body 10 etc. only needs to have the above-described structural and functional relationship between at least two chambers, the airbag main body 10 etc. may have three or more chambers.

[0071] Furthermore, in the above description, the partition wall 13 and the like in each embodiment are exemplified as members that almost completely separate the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2. However, for example, in order to more appropriately adjust the internal pressure difference between the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2, the partition wall 13 and the like may be formed with a relatively small through-hole that penetrates between the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2.

[0072] Furthermore, the embodiments can be modified or varied based on the above disclosure. Furthermore, all the components of the above embodiments and all the features described in the claims may be individually extracted and combined, unless they are mutually inconsistent. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1,2 Airbag device 10,20 Airbag body 10a, 20a contact range 13,23 Partition part 14,24 Communication part 14a,24a 1st end 14b,24b 2nd end 17,27 Inflator 100 seats 110 Door Trim 120 steering wheel C1 First Chamber C2 Second Chamber H Crew

Claims

1. an airbag body including a partition wall that divides the interior into a first chamber and a second chamber, and that inflates from a folded state due to an inflow of gas; a communication portion that is provided in a contact area with an object that moves toward the airbag main body when the airbag main body is inflated, and that communicates the first chamber with the second chamber through an outer surface of a panel that is the outside of the airbag main body; an inflator that introduces the gas into the first chamber or the second chamber, The airbag device in which the communication portion is crushed by the intrusion object, causing the internal communication space to become closed.

2. 2. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the communication portion has a duct shape with one end communicating with the first chamber and the other end communicating with the second chamber, and is inflated from a folded state by the inflow of the gas.

3. the airbag body is installed in a vehicle seat and has a deployed shape that protects the side of an occupant sitting in the seat in the event of a side collision of the vehicle, The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the intrusion target is a door trim of the vehicle or the occupant.

Images